Dr. Theresa Spatz

Research Interests:

scientific and applied nature conservation, biodiversity, endangered species, anthropogenic impact, movement patterns.

Human impacts on the environment are manifold. Climate change and the intensification of land use are two main threats for terrestrial biodiversity induced by humans.

To study such anthropogenic impacts in more detail I am using methods of the scientific field of movement ecology, one of the most fascinating disciplines in biology to me. Movement ecology combines ecology and behavioural biology. It enables me to deal with research questions important for nature and species conservation and to derive strategies for applied nature conservation.

For my PhD I am studying the movement behaviour and the habitat selection of Red Kites (Milvus milvus) in relation to land use. We mounted modern GSM-GPRS transmitters on adult individuals to gain spatially and temporally high-resolved movement data. By assessing the impact of land use on the Red Kite’s movement behaviour my studies will allow to identify habitat types and structures with increased potential for conflicts. This facilitates the assessment and development of conservation measures.

The entire project is conducted in close collaboration with several nature conservation organisations and –practitioners. My research is funded in the framework of a PhD scholarship of the German Federal Foundation for the Environment (DBU).